Why is my Apple remote desktop not sending software updates as it should?

Question

Level 1

13 points

Why is my Apple remote desktop not sending software updates as it should?

Apple Remote Desktop Help?

In apple remote desktop there is the unix command line where I can send the command softwareupdate --install --all, and I am doing so as root user on an Admin account. My problem occurs when I send the software update and ARD never states whether or not updates were successfully installed, it just says software update tool. I know that it is not installing the update either, because when I observe the computers I see the pending updates. I am new to apple support and appreciate any help in this matter. Thankyou

Apple Remote Desktop -OTHER, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), Apple Remote Desktop

Posted on Jun 23, 2016 8:51 AM

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Answer 1

TeenTitan

Level 4

2,640 points

Jun 27, 2016 2:11 PM in response to HelpdeskCofO

have you tried:

send command as root

the command "softwareupdate -d -i -a" ?

Try issuing the command to one computer at a time. If you issue it to 100 computers. Your network may choke on the bandwidth needed to download all the updates at ones. Keep in mind that softwareupdate is for OS updates; it's not going to install updates for pages or other app store apps.

If the command works, you'll probable want to reboot the computer. So every thing works properly.

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Answer 2

HelpdeskCofO Author

Level 1

13 points

Jun 27, 2016 2:11 PM in response to TeenTitan

I have selected run as and entered root, the only thing I do different is softwareupdate -i -a, instead of stating successful, the software just says software update tool and shows no signs of updating the os. In regards to general updates and not updates to the os , do I have an option besides remoting in one at a time to install them?

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Answer 3

TeenTitan

Level 4

2,640 points

Jun 28, 2016 5:50 PM in response to HelpdeskCofO

-d is download, -a is all. -i is install.

I'm not sure how your going to install all the updates without downloading them.

If you do softwareupdate -d -i -a and get no updates .. What updates do you feel is missing?

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Answer 4

HelpdeskCofO Author

Level 1

13 points

Jul 1, 2016 9:07 AM in response to TeenTitan

I have tried both softwareupdate -d -i -a, softwareupdate -i -a, and I have ard set to inform me of the operations failure or success. Ard states software update tool on completion without any signs of pushing the actual updates. I am sending the updates to machines on older versions of el capitan or prior, and after ard says software update tool, they just stay on the same version. Every machine we have right now should be on 10.11.5 except for some older mini's. So, for example some are just on 10.11 not 10.11.5.

I also used command Y in ard to refresh and I also restarted the machines.

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